[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 111 (Monday, June 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32622-32624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12591]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program 14 CFR Part 150; Port 
Columbus International Airport, Columbus, OH

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program (NCP) submitted by the 
Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) under the provisions of 49 
U.S.C. Sections 47501, et seq. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement 
Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR Part 150 (Part 
150). These findings are made in recognition of the description of 
Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 
(1980). On December 5, 2007 the FAA determined that the noise exposure 
maps submitted by the CRAA under Part 150 were in compliance with 
applicable requirements. On May 19, 2008, the FAA approved the Port 
Columbus International Airport noise compatibility program updates. 
Twenty-one (21) measures were approved or approved as voluntary. Four 
(4) measures required no action. Two (2) program elements related to 
new or revised flight procedures for noise abatement that were proposed 
by CRAA.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Port Columbus International Airport noise compatibility program is May 
19, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katherine S. Jones, Community 
Planner, Detroit Airports District Office, Metro Airport Center, 11677 
South Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, Michigan, Phone (734) 229-2900. 
Documents reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this same 
location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Port 
Columbus International Airport, effective May 19, 2008.

[[Page 32623]]

    Under Section 47504 of the Act, an airport operator who has 
previously submitted a noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise 
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed 
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible 
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within 
the area covered by the noise exposure maps. The Act requires such 
programs to be developed in consultation with interested and affected 
parties, including local communities, government agencies, airport 
users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Part 150 is a local program, not a Federal program. The FAA does 
not substitute its judgment for that of the airport sponsor with 
respect to which measures should be recommended for action. The FAA's 
approval or disapproval of Part 150 program recommendations is measured 
according to the standards expressed in Part 150 and the Act and is 
limited to the following:
    a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of Part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land uses around the airport 
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land uses;
    c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types or classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
    d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be 
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating 
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in 14 CFR 150.5. Approval is 
not a determination concerning the acceptability of land uses under 
Federal, State, or local law. Approval does not by itself constitute an 
FAA implementing action. A request for Federal action or approval to 
implement specific noise compatibility measures may be required, and an 
FAA decision on the request may require an environmental determination 
of the proposed action. Approval does not constitute a commitment by 
the FAA to financially assist in the implementation of the program nor 
a determination that all measures covered by the program are eligible 
for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. Where Federal funding is sought, 
requests for project grants must be submitted to the FAA Detroit 
Airports District Office in Romulus, Michigan.
    On November 27, 2007, the CRAA submitted to the FAA the noise 
exposure maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during 
the noise compatibility planning study conducted in 2006-2007. The Port 
Columbus International Airport noise exposure maps were determined by 
FAA to be in compliance with applicable legal requirements on December 
5, 2007. Notice of this determination was published in the Federal 
Register on December 20, 2007 (FR Doc. 07-6109 Filed 12-19-07; 8:45 
a.m.).
    The CRAA study contains a proposed noise compatibility program 
comprised of actions designed for phased implementation by airport 
management and local jurisdictions starting in 2008. It was requested 
that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a NCP as described 
in Section 47504 of the Act. The FAA began its review of the program on 
December 5, 2007, and was required by a provision of the Act to approve 
or disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the use of new or 
modified flight procedures for noise control).
    The submitted program contained twenty-seven (27) proposed actions 
for noise mitigation on and/or off the airport which continue or expand 
the intent of the 2001 Record of Approval (ROA) approval. The FAA 
previously approved twenty-one (21) of these measures on January 10, 
2001. The 2007 NCP recommends twenty-five (25) proposed actions for 
approval and two (2) actions to be withdrawn. The proposed actions are 
a combination of existing, amended, and new from the 2001 ROA. The FAA 
completed its review and determined that the procedural and substantive 
requirements of the Act and Part 150 have been satisfied. The overall 
program, therefore, was approved by the FAA effective May 19, 2008.
    Consistent with the 2001 ROA, the 2008 ROA approved all twenty-five 
(25) proposed actions in the NCP. Outright approval was granted for 
nineteen (19) program elements. These elements were: Amend the Port 
Columbus International Airport Night Time Aircraft Runway-up Policy to 
designate a new run-up location such that EJA's new building will 
provide attenuation of jet engine maintenance run-ups for adjacent 
residential areas located along 1-270; construct a noise berm/wall; 
replacement and potential relocation of Ground Run-up Barrier B 
(location/materials/size); offer a program for noise insulation for 
noncompatible structures for noncompatible residences within the 65+ 
DNL contour for Future (2012) Noise Compatibility Program condition, in 
exchange for an avigation easement; seek cooperation from the City of 
Columbus and Franklin County to amend their land use compatibility 
standards to achieve the level of compatibility identified in the 
recommended land use compatibility guidelines; seek cooperation from 
the City of Columbus and Franklin County to amend the boundaries of the 
Airport Environs Overlay (AEO) district to include proposed Airport 
Land Use Management District corresponding to the 60 DNL of the 20-year 
NCP contour (2023); seek cooperation from the Franklin County, City of 
Gahanna, and Jefferson Township to amend the Franklin County zoning 
resolution, Section 660.07, Avigation Easement, to require applicants 
for rezoning, change of use, or special use permit to convey an 
avigation easement to the appropriate Airport; seek cooperation from 
Jefferson Township and the City of Gahanna to adopt the proposed 
Airport Land Use Management District as part of their official zoning 
regulations; seek cooperation from Franklin County, Jefferson Township, 
Mifflin Township, and the City of Gahanna to adopt subdivision codes 
applicable to the proposed Airport Land Use Management District; seek 
cooperation from Franklin County, Jefferson Township, Mifflin Township, 
and the City of Gahanna to adopt building codes applicable to the 
proposed Airport Land Use Management District; seek cooperation from 
the board of realtors to participate in a fair disclosure program for 
property located within the proposed Airport Land Use Management 
District; periodically place advertisements in a variety of media 
outlets delineating the boundaries of the Airport Land Use Management 
District; development an Airport Land Use Management District based on 
the 2023 Noise Exposure Map/Noise Compatibility Program noise contour, 
other geographic, and jurisdictional boundaries; maintain the noise 
abatement elements of FAA (Airport Traffic Control Tower) ATCT Tower 
Order; maintain the Noise Management Office for noise compatibility 
program

[[Page 32624]]

management; maintain an on-going public involvement program regarding 
the noise compatibility program; maintain the noise and flight track 
monitoring system and expand and upgrade the system as necessary and 
add four permanent noise monitoring towers and upgrade the computer 
software and hardware as necessary; routinely update the noise contours 
and periodically update the noise program; and establish a land use 
compatibility task force which meets periodically to discuss issues 
relevant to airport noise compatibility planning. Approval as a 
voluntary measure was granted for two (2) program elements. These 
elements were: Increase nighttime use of Runway 10L/28R and amend FAA 
Tower Order CMH ATCT 7110.1 to read as follows: ``Unless wind, weather, 
runway closure, or loss of NAVAIDs dictate otherwise, between the hours 
of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. local time, runways 28L and 10R are assigned jet 
aircraft; jet aircraft with Stage 3 engines may use Runway 10L/28R for 
arrival operations between the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. local time; 
and jet aircraft with Stage 3 engines may use Runway 10L and 28R after 
6 a.m.''; and maximize east flow and amend FAA Tower Order CMH ATCT 
7110.lb and the Airport Facilities Directory to reflect implementation 
of the ``east flow'' informal preferential runway use system. No action 
was taken on two (2) program elements. These elements were: Construct a 
new run-up barrier at the north airfield, if the EJA (NetJets) building 
does not adequately attenuate jet maintenance run-up noise for adjacent 
residential areas located along 1-270; and offer a program for noise 
insulation for noncompatibile structures for noncompatible churches 
within the 65+ DNL contour for the 2012 NEMINCP condition in exchange 
for an avigation easement. No action was required as the measure 
relates to flight procedures under 49 U.S.C. 47504 was taken on two (2) 
program elements. These program elements were: Implement a 15-degree 
turn off of Runway 28R, after crossing the runway end to a 295-degree 
heading, only during peak operating periods when traffic warrants; and 
create performance-based overlay procedures for all existing and 
proposed arrival/departure procedures (RNAV/RNP/GPS/CDA).
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a ROA signed by the 
Great Lakes Region Airports Division Manager on May 19, 2008. The ROA, 
as well as other evaluation materials and the documents comprising the 
submittal, are available for review at the FAA office listed above. The 
ROA also will be available online at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/environmental/airport_noise .

    Dated: May 28, 2008.

    Issued in Romulus, Michigan.
Matthew J. Thys,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
 [FR Doc. E8-12591 Filed 6-6-08; 8:45 am]
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